For a while now, Moira has had the feeling there's not much point in doing anything. Not even the thought of meeting her best friend Rosie lifts her spirits. How could that be? They'd known each other since they were kids, and contact with Rosie had always brought a smile to her face. It wasn't that they'd fallen out, just that lately their 'Monday Moan' was living up to that name rather too well. Rosie admits she feels the same way.A competition, with the prize of a wonderful spri...

Chloe had never fully identified as Mum's child. Mum was always so perfect, with never a hair out of place, or a chipped nail. Chloe was a tomboy who didn't care how she looked – not a great advert for Mum's dress shop! Even so, she never doubted Mum loved her very much.Although she didn't look like him either, Chloe had more in common with her father. She liked being down the allotment with him, watching things grow and harvesting them. Although she liked the edible things, her fa...

Lately Linda's life had been one disappoint after the next. Things hadn't been great even before her husband left her for a younger, prettier slimmer woman. Now she was struggling at work, and unable to pay for all the groceries in her trolley.One bright spot was her colleague Tina's stories. You couldn't help listening. They were often amusing, but more frequently downright hilarious. They were wildly exaggerated of course and rarely complimentary, even when they involved herself....

A solicitor's letter invited Maria to come and discuss matters relating to the late Barbara Watkins' estate. Maria knew that Barbara had considered her a silly little kid, even after she'd helped save the life of one of her beloved horses. Barbara had made no secret of the fact she'd cared for each of her four legged friends than she ever had for anything on two legs.Those animals were now sold to pay off Barbaras debts. There was nothing of any financial value left. Those items of...

When Kelly visited her best friend Aurora, she was baking. Initially Kelly was pleased. Last time she'd spoken to Aurora she'd sounded frantically busy and stressed. If she had time to bake things couldn't be too bad, could they?She soon realised they could. Aurora wasn't baking to relax, or even because she wanted bread. She was doing it because the cottage she loved was on the market, and she thought the smell would entice potential buyers. She was doing that rather than 'waste t...

Nik had thought everything was going to be brilliant. Mum was going to get a new husband and he'd have a brother. They'd be like one of the families you see on TV. Of course those things would still happen but, because Shane didn't look at things the right way, because they weren't the same, none of it was going to be good like he'd hoped.That was until the boys went away on a photography weekend and Nik realised it was he, and others who hadn't been looking at things the right way...

Natalie and Dean have lived together for eight years and been a couple longer than that. They have a nice home, are able to take a cruise most years and she knows he loves her just as much as she loves him. There's nothing she needs. No reason of her to feel jealous of Gladys who is celebrating her 50th wedding anniversary – but Natalie is jealous. Horribly, painfully jealous.A romantic short story of 2,500 words by Patsy Collins

Bradley who runs the small newspaper started by his grandfather has promised to only print what he believes to be true. He very much wants to write a piece declaring ghosts and contact with the spirit world to be genuine. Laura agrees to hep, but warns him that no matter what he discovers, it's unlikely he'll be able to convince others of the truth.A 3,000 word slightly spooky short story.

Sonia's headaches have come back. They returned when she started working for the awful Harry. She'd suffered them in her youth. Whatever caused them back then seemed to have definite ideas about what she should and shouldn't do. If she tried to do something 'it' didn't like she'd get terrible jolts of pain. But if she could fight through it and make a commitment towards her future they'd stop – just as had happened when she accepted her police officer husband's proposal.Now though ...

Alex remembered Deborah from school. She hadn't been kind then and she'd not improved since. Except that he didn't remember as much about her as he'd thought, and she did once give him a chance.A short story of 2,800 words

Amanda wants to help people, even if that's not what they want themselves. She needs to do it now, to make up for the one time when she never tried.A 2,400 word short story.

Steve is often out and about late at night. He doesn't want to scare people or have them wonder what he's up to. Fido proves to be the perfect answer.A 3,500 word short crime story